atient
analytical and comprehensive generalizing abilities, and his sound and
impartial judgment. Besides these works, he was the author of numerous
papers in scientific journals of this country and of Europe, as also of
a number of pamphlets on various subjects connected with the studies in
which he was engaged. Among these the 'Inquiry into the Distinctive
Characteristics of the Aboriginal Race of America,' published in 1844,
deserves to be specially mentioned as a comprehensive _resume_ of the
general results of his inquiries. Dr. Morton had a wide practice in his
profession, of which he was a distinguished member--a profession
peculiarly subject to those interruptions and contingencies so
unfavorable to philosophical investigation. Yet in the intervals of
leisure which were afforded to him during hours snatched from sleep, he
made those arduous researches of which we have the leading results in
the works which I have enumerated. The facts and data upon which these
researches were based, were collected with almost incredible labor, and
at an expense which few students could afford, or affording, would have
consented to incur. Dr. MORTON'S museum of Crania, presented by him to
the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, of which he was a
principal supporter and most active officer, comprised not less than 900
human skulls, and 600 of the inferior animals. These were collected from
every quarter of the globe, and afford types of every race, and almost
every family of men. The correspondence and general and special
exertions, which the collection of such a museum involves, must have
been immense; and we can but admire the untiring zeal and patient
industry of the man who undertook and accomplished it. It is a brilliant
example of what men may do if animated by a true spirit; and must afford
encouragement to those engaged in cognate researches in a country like
our own, where public aid is rarely extended to objects of this nature.
As Americans we may take just pride in the reflection, that an American
physician, by his individual exertions, with the aid of a few personal
friends, made a Craniological Museum surpassing extent the united
collections of half of Europe, and one which must now be consulted by
every scholar before he can undertake to write upon the great questions
involved in the natural history of man. In March last the Government of
the United States placed in the hands of Dr. MORTON the Crania collected